Exploring farmers’ acceptance of treated wastewater for irrigation and its diverse impacts: evidence from case studies in the West Bank, Palestine
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Global water scarcity has intensified the search for non-conventional water sources, with treated wastewater (TWW) emerging as a promising alternative, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In the West Bank’s Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron areas, the proliferation of wastewater treatment plants has led to increasing volumes of treated effluent, raising questions about its optimal utilization amid acute water shortages. This study investigates the acceptance and perceived implications of TWW use for irrigation among local farmers. A survey was administered to a sample of 376 farmers using a simple random sampling method. The results indicate strong support for TWW adoption, with 82.7% of respondents expressing willingness to irrigate with treated effluent. The affordability of TWW emerged as the primary driver of acceptance, with 79.5% highlighting lower irrigation costs as a key motivator, while 69.1% acknowledged its potential to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. Post-study projections suggest that 80.1% of farmers anticipate increasing TWW usage. Farmers reported high overall satisfaction, especially regarding economic benefits (mean score: 2.67), followed by social (2.39) and environmental (2.17) impacts. These findings emphasize the economic viability and broad acceptance of TWW, positioning it as a sustainable and socially supported strategy for addressing agricultural water demands in water-scarce contexts.
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411191925